Why I Was Vaccinated (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 

 

Why I Was Vaccinated

 

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

 

I am one of the first in Greece to get the new vaccine and with this text I wanted to express some of my thoughts that led me to this.

1. The Pandemic as War

For about a year we have been suffering from the new coronavirus (sars-cov2) which causes covid-19 disease, and has created many problems in the Church, society and the family. The economic, psychological and, above all, the social consequences are great and no one can number and surpass them.

During the first period of the pandemic, when I was a representative of the Church, I was given the opportunity to see all the issues related to the new virus, and the effects it has on people, society and the Church.

Saint Iakovos Tsalikes and the Unbelieving Physicist

 

By Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol

There was a woman from Canada, and another nun with her, from Cyprus, actually, and they went to see Fr. Iakovos.

The young woman who was from Canada was a physicist, but she didn’t believe and was probably an atheist. When they got there, Fr. Iakovos told them he was leaving to go to a village. He added: "But I hope that Saint David, who’s here in our monastery, will show you that there really are saints and the grace of the Holy Spirit. God exists and He overcomes the laws of nature."

Epidemiology Professor: No Scientific Study That Proves COVID-19 is Transmitted Through Holy Communion

 

 

Speaking on ERT TV last week, Athena Linou, Professor of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and President of the Institute of Prevention, was asked whether it was possible that COVID-19 was transmitted through Holy Communion.

The professor stressed that there was no epidemiological study that proves such a thing.

Specifically referring to the issue of Holy Communion in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Athena Linou noted: “I have to admit that there is no epidemiological study that proves that the disease is transmitted through ingestion of saliva, including the virus itself. There is no study.”

The Man Who Was A Fool (Martin Luther King Jr.)

 

 

By Martin Luther King Jr.

 

Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. (Luke 12:20)

 

I would like to share with you a dramatic little story that is significantly relevant in its implications and profoundly meaningful in its conclusions. It is the story of a man who by all modern standards would be considered eminently successful. Yet Jesus called him a fool.  The central character in the drama is a "certain rich man," whose farm yielded such heavy crops that he decided to build new and larger barns, saying, "There will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry."  But God said to him, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee."  And it was so. At the height of his prosperity, he died.  Think of this man. If he lived in our community today, he would be considered "a big shot." He would abound with social prestige and community respectability. He would be one of the privileged few in the economic power structure.  And yet a Galilean peasant had the audacity to call him a fool.  Jesus did not call this man a fool merely because he possessed wealth. Jesus never made a sweeping indictment against wealth. Rather, he condemned the misuse of wealth. Money, like any other force such as electricity, is amoral and can be used for either good or evil. It is true that Jesus commanded the rich young ruler to “sell all,” but in this instance, as Dr. George A. Buttrick has said, Jesus was prescribing individual surgery, not making a universal diagnosis. Nothing in wealth is inherently vicious, and nothing in poverty is inherently virtuous.  Jesus did not condemn this man because he had made money in a dishonest fashion. Apparently he acquired his wealth by hard work and the practical know-how and far-sighted vision of a good businessman.  Why, then, was he a fool?

Survey Says Most Greeks Believe the Coronavirus Can Be Transmitted Through Holy Communion, a Professor of Microbiology Says Overcrowding is the Greatest Risk

 

A survey conducted in Greece by the polling company Metron Analysis on behalf of the Greek TV channel MEGA from September 23-29 has yielded interesting results.

 

In particular, according to the survey, 70%, or 7 out of 10 Greeks are of the opinion that the coronavirus can be transmitted through Holy Communion, while only 22% believe that it cannot.

 

Also, 81% of Greek citizens say that the mask protects against the spread of coronavirus, but 17% do not believe they do. 

 

Meanwhile, 59%, or 6 out of 10 say that if there is a vaccine they would take it, but 35%, or 1 out of 3 say that they would not.

 

An Electrifying Miracle

 

Elder Nikolai (Guryanov)

A Russian professor of mathematics came to visit Elder Nikolai (Guryanov) with his English friend, also a professor of mathematics, who was an unbeliever. The Russian friend prayed very much that he would believe. The Englishman said: "If this old man shows me a miracle, then I will believe."

They arrived and met with the elder who led them into his cell and immediately said: "My son, what a miracle for you, to be here." He went to the switch and started clicking: "Here is light, but there is no light. Here is light, but there is no light. Ha-ha-ha!" They laughed, and Father Nikolai sent them home: "Go, my sons, with God, go in peace." The Englishman also laughed saying, "What miracles can there be?" After all, he was a man of science. 

They arrived back to the mainland from the island, and there was a crowd of people gathered, the police, and workers who were dragging some wires. "What happened?" they asked. "For three days now there has been no electricity on the islands." Amazed the scientists immediately turned the boat back to see Elder Nikolai. 

 

How Are We To Understand the Sun Standing Still for Joshua?

By John Sanidopoulos

In the Book of Joshua 10:12-14 we read:

Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon;
And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.

Unsanitary Miracles

Every time there is mention of saliva, spoons and the like - by those who have targeted Holy Communion - the miracle comes to mind of the man born blind (John 9). The Lord, with a “sanitarily unacceptable” action, restored the eyes of the blind man! He mixed His saliva (a means of spreading viruses and bacteria) with soil (a source of millions of germs) and “smeared” the clay mixture over the eye sockets of the blind man (mucosal conjunctiva: a point of entry for germs and the onset of infection). We are familiar with what ensued, just as we know that no science is able to reproduce that result. Quite simply, if it had taken place today, apart from the Pharisees of that time, among Jesus’ accusers would also be certain narrow-minded infectious disease specialists.

- Monk Paul of the Holy Mountain

Biologist, MD Molecular Biology and Biomedicine

Vouleftiria, Holy Mountain

Speech of Michael Kratsios, US Chief Technology Officer, at the 29th Annual Leadership 100 Conference Forum

Michael Kratsios spoke at the 29th Annual Leadership 100 Conference Forum at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL on February 21, 2020. At only 33 years of age, Kratsios currently serves as Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Chief Technology Officer of the United States, and Deputy Assistant to the President at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He is also a faithful Greek Orthodox Christian with a certificate from Princeton in Hellenic Studies, and in his position at the White House he advocates for the promotion of emerging technologies in the United States

Book Recommendation: "Journey of a Doctor: In Search of the Spiritual Dimension of the Medical Profession"

Journey of a Doctor: In Search of the Spiritual Dimension of the Medical Profession

By Stylianos D Poyiadjis

The Journey of a Doctor is a book of Eastern Orthodox spirituality. A doctor is searching for the spiritual dimension of the medical profession and for the necessary qualities required by a doctor in practicing his mission. The search takes the doctor to holy places where, in discussion with wise and enlightened gerontes (elders), he gets answers to the multitude of his questions. He gets answers on the virtues of prayer, humility, love, compassion and conscientiousness in practicing his profession. He gets further clarity on his relationship with the patient, with the patient’s family, with his own family, with himself. He also gets answers on material issues, ethical dilemmas and how to face adverse outcomes.This book is addressed, not only to doctors, but also to anyone who at some stage will fall ill and will need medical attention. It is encouraging when the patient realizes the spiritual battle of his treating doctor and his titanic efforts to offer cure and relief. The spiritual benefits of illness to the patient, to the doctor and their immediate environment are of great importance.

PURCHASE HERE

An Orthodox Christian View of the Theory of Evolution

In a discussion after a lecture on Orthodox Psychotherapy on 14 July 2009 in Tbilisi, Georgia, Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos answered the following question from an attendee:

Question: What is your view of Darwin's theory of evolution? How did the world evolve?

Answer: This is a scientific theory that scientists study and on which they repeatedly express their views.

Vaccination and the Virus of Misinformation

On Thursday 14 May 2020 an Informational Clergy-Laity Synaxis took place at the Holy Metropolis of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou in view of the opening of the churches for the participation of the faithful in the Holy Mysteries following the closing of the churches to the faithful due to the coronavirus crisis. It took place in the Church of Saint Paraskevi in Nafpaktos and it was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou, who recently was the official spokesperson for these issues in the Church of Greece. After the discussion he was asked the following question, which is followed by his response:

Scientific Studies on the Transmission of Infectious Diseases Through Holy Communion

Often when discussing the issue of the possibility of the transmission of infectious diseases through Holy Communion, anecdotal evidence at best is presented, though usually it is more about speculations and personal beliefs. However, since the late 19th century there have been numerous scientific studies that actually give us hard scientific evidence. Most of these studies have been done in Anglican, Methodist and Lutheran churches with their debate of many decades regarding the use of the common communion cup. Using the common cup is similar to using a common spoon by Orthodox Christians. However, with the Orthodox practice, it can be added that after each communicant receives communion the priest dips the spoon in warmed wine before communicating the Holy Gifts again, which can serve as a disinfectant; this important factor is not determined in the conclusions of the studies below. Also, for those Orthodox Christians who argue for the miraculous properties of the Holy Gifts, the studies below should eliminate this factor and examines it by its physical properties alone. It is only on this basis that conclusions can be drawn. As far as I know, no such study has been done with the Orthodox practice, which should be considered.

Sotirios Tsiodras, Greece's Top Expert in Infectious Diseases and a Devout Orthodox Christian

As of March 24th, 2020, the Coronavirus is responsible for 20 deaths and 743 cases in Greece. Despite this, the government is acting as though the numbers are higher. A protagonist in Greece’s battle against coronavirus is immunologist Sotiris Tsiodras, the government spokesperson for coronavirus-related measures.

Mr. Tsiodras is the father of seven children with a CV that runs over 27 pages. He is dubbed the “new beloved of Greeks” by the French newspaper Le Figaro, and he holds the burden of daily informing Greeks of what is in store in the ‘war’ against Covid-19.

Where Did Viruses Come From?

The Spread of the Coronavirus and its Consequences on the Life of the Church During Great Lent

Metropolitan Nicholas (Hatzinikolaou) 

of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki

February 27, 2020

There is a widespread upheaval these days which is on the rise around the world on the occasion of a new type of virus, which is unfortunately being reproduced and magnified by the media, with the Prime Minister even being forced to declare: "The biggest opponent is not the coronavirus but panic." Indeed this is more easily transmitted than viruses!

Protecting our health is certainly not a bad thing. Panic is the evil. Preventive measures and prudence have nothing to do with it. Inattention or exaggeration is the problem.

Saint Paisios the Athonite and the Chemist

The following testimony comes from a priest and theological professor from Brussels with the initials K.K., whose full name appears in the book where the testimony can be found in Όσιος Παΐσιος ο Αγιορείτης (1924-1994), Μαρτυρίες προσκυνητών (vol. 1, 7th edition).

In the spring of 1989 a Greek researcher, a chemist from the European Commission, had entered the Holy Mountain with me, and for him it was the first time coming.

A Meeting Between Saint Nikolai Velimirovich and Nikola Tesla

In his lifetime, Saint Nikolai Velimirovich visited the USA four times. He visited Britain in 1910. He studied English and was capable of addressing an audience and making a strong impression on listeners. Shortly after the outbreak of World War I this contributed to his appointment by the Serbian government to a mission in the United States. In 1915, as an unknown Serbian hieromonk, he toured most of the major U.S. cities, where he held numerous lectures, fighting for the union of the Serbs and South Slavic peoples. This mission gained ground: America sent over 20,000 volunteers to Europe, most of whom later fought on the Salonika Front.

The Challenges of Artificial Intelligence

By Metropolitan Nicholas of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki

Artificial Intelligence is an unprecedented caliber of technological achievement of recent years, its range of application is enormous, the rate of its evolution fast, the consequences unforeseen, the threat to our human identity unprecedented, its formative power for the future of societies, of human beings, of life and of the world immeasurable, it is a global concern, and expert scientists appear to be inadequate in their predictions.